Laboratory for Aptamer Discovery and Development of Emerging Research (LADDER)

The Laboratory for Aptamer Discovery and Development of Emerging Research  (LADDER) facility at Carleton University houses the DeRosa laboratory, which examines  types of nucleic acids called ‘aptamers’ that can fold into 3D-nanoscale shapes capable of binding tightly to a specific molecular target.  The facility houses all the necessary equipment for the discovery of new aptamers for a variety of targets, from small molecules, to proteins, to whole cells or viruses.  Along with the development of new aptamers, the DeRosa group is focused on developing a better understanding of how aptamers work and on using this information to design useful nanotechnology, like biosensors or “smart” delivery devices.